Most adults want to grow old in the home they live in now and not in a nursing home or assisted living facility.

A 2016 HomeAdvisor study found 61 percent of people over the age of 55 plan to stay in their homes indefinitely.

Older adults, or their children, looking to modify a home for aging in place can expect the process to get expensive — but there are lower cost options to get started.

While doing most things listed in this article would cost a minimum of $75,000, research by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development said making modifications to stay in one’s home could be significantly cheaper than moving into assisted living.

Experts say the first place to start is the bathroom, followed by the front door.

Here are a few things you can do to prepare to age in place.

Bathroom grab bars

All Home Medical Supply

A bathroom with several grab bars and other products.

A bathroom with several grab bars and other products. (All Home Medical Supply)

One of the most basic additions to an aging adult’s house is usually the first thing to put in. Grab bars near a toilet or shower can assist in getting from a wheelchair to the toilet or prevent a slip. All Home Medical Supply, based in San Diego, sells simple wall grab bars for $15 to $24. Security poles, which connect to the floor and attach to the ceiling range from $169 to $209.

Nonslip flooring

More than one-third of older adults injure themselves in the bathroom, says the AARP, making nonslip flooring a priority for many aging-in-place remodelers. Slip-resistant rugs can run $10 to $15 a piece, and rubber flooring options are typically less than $3 per square foot, said AARP.

Shower design

In addition to nonslip flooring, showers can be modified to include a seat (or shower stool), grab bar and handheld shower head. Ideally, the shower should have a low threshold for easy access. There are hundreds of shower seats on the market, but the most basic stool with suction cups and adjustable legs is around $40.

Walk-in bathtubs

Safe Step

Safe Step walk-in bath

Safe Step walk-in bath (Safe Step)

Walk-in tubs are designed to help people with mobility challenges avoid slips and difficulty getting in and out of normal tubs or showers. Costs range from $15,000 to $35,000, said Safe Step San Diego sales representative Brady Kosen. Why is it so pricey? Sometimes plumbing needs to be redone or an entire section of the bathroom needs to be rebuilt to accommodate the tub.

Toilet riser

Common additions are toilet safety frames, which allow the user to lower themselves onto the seat, and toilet seat risers that limit the space needed to bend down. Seat risers can cost as little as $24 at Walgreens and there are toilet safety rails for $20 on Amazon.

Widened doorways

Christopher Lee Home

San Diego remodelers Christopher Lee Home expanded this doorway from 5 feet to nearly 8 feet

Wider doorways make it easier for occupants in a wheelchair to move around the house, but wider doorways are also popular with home remodelers because they make homes look bigger. Much of the cost will likely come from labor, although there are many do-it-yourself guides on the internet. The online Remodel Cost Guide estimates $75 to $500 for materials. In general, remodelers recommend 36-inch-wide doorways.

Outside ramp

Homes for Easy Living

This ramp for a wheelchair is hard to spot from the street.

This ramp for a wheelchair is hard to spot from the street. (Homes for Easy Living)

An outside ramp helps occupants in a wheelchair, or those with other walking challenges, get into their home. Materials for the project can cost from $500 to $2,000, said the Remodel Cost Guide. A simple steel ramp is also an option for homes that only have a small porch. Susan Mack of Homes for Easy Living in Murrieta suggests a subtle design that will not alert potential criminals that there is someone in the house who may be vulnerable to easy theft.

Stair lift

Access to Freedom

Carlsbad’s Access to Freedom sells several types of mechanical chair lifts that can transport people with walking challenges up the stairs.

Carlsbad’s Access to Freedom sells several types of mechanical chair lifts that can transport people with walking challenges up the stairs. (Access to Freedom)

Ensuring a house with several floors doesn’t become a trap, several companies offer mechanical chairs that attach to stairwells and securely transport someone up a floor. Carlsbad’s Access to Freedom sells Stannah brand chairs that go straight up the stairs ($2,500 to $4,100), curved ($11,200 to $16,500) and outdoor ($5,500 to $6,000). It also has a rental program that, for $1,895, will put in a straight line chair and remove it after three months.

Kitchen remodel

A Kinder Space

A kitchen remodel from San Diego-based A Kinder Space features appliances close to the ground and drawers instead of cabinets

A kitchen remodel from San Diego-based A Kinder Space features appliances close to the ground and drawers instead of cabinets (A Kinder Space)

Aging-in-place experts say the most important room to remodel is the bathroom, but after that, the kitchen is a good place to start. Anne Kellett, owner of San Diego-based A Kinder Space, said a low-end kitchen remodel could cost $45,000 but would be much more for a total makeover. Some changes include: Adjusting counter heights to make them easier to reach; adding more drawers than cabinets; arranging space so appliances are easier to reach; andusing different colors throughout the house — using a different color on flooring, walls and cabinets —to help those with depth-perception issues. Kellett said some changes are simple, such as putting dishes right next to the dishwasher.

Wheelchair accessible sink

Homes for Easy Living

Sinks can be designed to make it easy for someone in a wheelchair to use

Sinks can be designed to make it easy for someone in a wheelchair to use (Homes for Easy Living)

When washing dishes or using a bathroom sink, it helps to have one that people in wheelchairs can roll under. It can be a simple job to install, compared to other aging-in-place projects, but can get expensive if an individual is looking for a top-of-the line product. Kohler sells enameled cast iron sinks for around $1,129. Swedish company Granberg sells an electronically raised and lowered wash basin so different members of a household can use it. (No price provided. You have to call company for a quote.)

Lighting

Older adults may need stronger lighting, or dim lighting, depending on their eyes and vision. Additionally, it can be helpful to install motion-sensor lights for those with limited movement, says the AARP HomeFit Guide. It suggests increasing lighting on stairs and pathways, which can be done cheaply with nightlights. Other suggestions include light switches that glow in the dark, lighting over work areas in the kitchen, lights in places that might not already have them (like closets) and halogen bulbs to reduce glare.

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